Wallace & Gromit’s first adventure is just what you’d expect

The first episode of Wallace & Gromit's Grand Adventures is available, and it …

Telltale has stumbled upon a pretty great formula, turning popular franchises like Sam & Max and Homestar Runner into episodic games with classic point-and-click adventure gameplay. Now the company has set its sites on the claymation duo of Wallace & Gromit. But how well does the series translate into the game world? Ars ventures into the first episode of Wallace & Gromit's Grand Adventures, Fright of the Bumblebees, to find out.

Wallace & Gromit's Grand Adventures

Fright of the Bumblebees

Developer: Telltale Games

Publisher: Telltale Games

Platform: PC

Price: $34.99/season

If you're played any of Telltale's previous games—or most other point-and-click adventure games for that matter—you'll feel right at home with Fright. The gameplay is identical, and consists mainly of speaking to other characters and using a variety of different items to interact with the environment in order to solve puzzles. You will switch back and forth between the titular duo, but there is no difference between the two.

But the gameplay isn't really the major concern here, given that these games already have a template in place that has proven successful. What really matters is the writing. And here, Fright is a bit of a mixed bag. Unlike Telltale's past titles, the game isn't packed full of jokes. Instead, it's a more subtle blend of humor that drips with the peculiar charm that has made Wallace & Gromit a cult classic. It may not reach the same level of quality of the film and shorts, but it's entertaining nonetheless.

It's not just the writing though; the game definitely captures the look and feel of its source material. It may not be technically impressive, but Fright looks very much like the animated films, especially with the visual settings turned up. The animation is also quite well done. Gromit's trademark facial expressions are in full effect, helping to add to the personality of the game.

Really, Fright of the Bumblebees is exactly what you'd expect from an adventure game starring Wallace and Gromit: it has lots of charm, some frustratingly obtuse puzzles, and is perfect for fans of the series. Adventure fans who aren't so familiar with the bumbling duo may want to try the demo first though, as it is somewhat of an acquired taste.